1912 Model A-4 Blackface Mandolin
Serial number 10977. 1912. Gibson Mandolin and Guitar co. Kalamazoo, Mich. U.S.A

Model A-4. The premium A model Carved top mandolin.

This instrument is fully playable, with excellent woody tone, and fully restored.

Handel Engraved Tuners, Tailpiece & Gibson Engraved Trapeze Cover and Pickguard assembly are all original to this instrument. The Bridge is a correct vintage Gibson made bridge from an unluckier early Gibson mandolin that wasn't saved by restoration.

Finish on back and sides are original as is some of the top finish, however all the finish has been refreshed and freshly polished with aniline dyed shellac based lacquers and hand rubbed back to a full sheen.

That followed a process in which the top which had sunken was gently heated and pressed into a mold from a brother mandolin to reset the carved arch and bracing reinforced and reglued internally. A crack in the neck heel has been solidly and invisibly repaired with an internal mahogany dowel as shown in the images below.
Above left you can see a crack before it was restored. The photos of both have been enhanced to show the now repaired crack. It's further been cleated beneath to prevent a reopening. A bit of the inlay in the headstock has been restored (in the letter b and letter e, and in the fleur-dis-lis.

The instrument has been refretted and the action set low. The neck is in good condition and there are no buzzes or deadspots. An ivory nut and some missing binding completed the restoration.

Below to the left see the neck beel before the repair and below that how that area looks today.

Look, Here's the offer.

This is a fine mandolin. I recently sold one that wasn't quite as original that had more extensive restoration for significantly more than the modest reserves I had on two prior offerings of this instrument. It's summer and people are traveling.

I could hold onto this until fall and sell it then for several hundred more than I might get for this instrument today. This is a fine, toneful and solidly restored, well playing instrument. But I've invested in two featured auctions and I've got staff that would rather have a payroll this week than in September.

So THIS AUCTION HAS NO RESERVE. Look around. See if you can find another early Gibson A that is professional playing condition for anywhere near today's prive. And SO

ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO RESERVE ONCE THE LOW START PRICE OF $1450 is placed.

That bidder or ANY BIDDER WHO IS IN THE TOP BIDDING POSITION
AT A GIVEN MOMENT MAY REQUEST THAT THE AUCTION END AND THE ITEM SOLD TO THEM.
The only condition is that such an arrangement must be paid within 24 hours, and we'll get your Vintage Gibson A4 on the way to you for a lifetime of enjoyment and the comfortable awarenss that you got a great deal on what I hope you'll agree may be the best playing instrument you'll ever have.

BId Now. Under the liberal terms of this auction,this instrument may no longer be available in even another 5 minutes. And although I can't read the future, it almost certainly won't last through the whole auction period.


We encourage you to write and ask questions and to review our feedback to confirm this is a for real offer and our reputation for service and quality work is of the highest caliber.